"I'll make you sick of each other's companionship before I've done with you! Stand up there together now, you pair of young desperadoes, while the rest of the boys have dinner, which your diabolical conduct has so long delayed.

Mr Smallpage, say grace, please." "Smiley" thereupon performed the Doctor's usual function; then the fellows were helped round to roast mutton and Yorkshire pudding--Tom and I, both hungry as usual, you may be sure--having the gratification of smelling without being allowed to taste.
This was Dr Hellyer's very practical first stage of punishment; he always commenced with starving us for any offence against his laws and ordinances, and then wound up his trilogy of penance with a proportionate number of "pandies" and solitary confinement.
After dinner the other boys were dismissed, but Tom and I remained still standing there; Dr Hellyer the while seated in his armchair watching us grimly as if taking pleasure in our sufferings, and without uttering a word to either of us.
The afternoon progressed, and the fellows came trooping in to tea at six, the old woman first arriving; to lay the cloth and put on the china teapot and tin mugs.

We, however, had to pass through the same ordeal as at dinner; there was none for us, for still the Doctor sat there in the armchair by the fire, looking in the dancing gleams of light like some old wizard or magician weaving a charm of spells which was to turn us into stone where we stood, if that process should not be rendered unnecessary by our being frozen beforehand from cramp through remaining so long in the one position.
When the bed gong sounded, we heard the boys trooping up-stairs; and then Dr Hellyer rose at last.
"Martin Leigh and Thomas Larkyns," he rolled out in his very deepest voice, making the ceiling of the refectory ring as usual.

"I intend to expel you from my school.

I shall write to your friends in the morning; and, in the meantime, you will be confined here until they come to remove you!" He then left the room, locking the door behind him, when the single jet of light from one burner went out suddenly with a jump, showing that he had turned the gas off at the main, and that we should not have a cheering beam to illumine our solitary vigil throughout the weary night.
A little bit of fire was still flickering in the grate, however, and, by this feeble light Tom and I looked at each other in desperation.
We were in a hobble, and no mistake! What was to be done?
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